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IT security has always been a concern, but as we move into bigger and better technology, what are the challenges that face us? Technology changes so fast that it isn’t possible to predict exactly how things will go down, but we can prepare for as many eventualities as possible, using current challenges as a stepping stone.

Criminals have always seen the Internet as a possibility for committing more crimes, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. So, we can reasonably expect that cyber crime of all types will increase alongside technology.

Security Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8QuUEwrKm8

Improved Technology Offers New Opportunities

Cloud computing is a big security concern for many companies, according to Security Week. A number of cloud services have popped up recently, and they offer plenty of benefits, including more cost-effective operating for large companies and increased mobility of information. It’s this mobility that can cause problems.

Back in the day, bandits often hit travelers and trains because the products they carried were valuable and they were vulnerable on the move. While the Internet isn’t exactly like the Old West, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that any time information is being sent or received, it can be vulnerable to others who may want access.

As cloud services are by definition detached from the companies that use them, physical security is an issue. Employees need to be carefully screened and checks put into place to prevent leakage of information as well as the outright stealing of data. Hackers are also a concern, and so are leaks between customers. Keep in mind that all of your information is stored along with information from other companies, making it simple for a breach to occur.

Cloud will likely grow considerably in the next decade, eliminating the need for keeping up with your own virtual storage space. However, this means that the security risks will also increase and new technology will have to be developed to keep information safe.

At the moment, 75% of attacks occur through Web applications, which show where the main problems are. This is something that will need to be fixed as the Internet and IT continue to grow. Where SaaS (Software as a Service) is provided, keep in mind that designers will need to implement more rigorous methods of keeping out the riff raff.

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Hackers Aren’t Going Away
At SysSec in the UK, studies have been done to learn more about security issues we currently face, as well as how they might affect us in the future. At the moment, with social media on the rise, it’s a hotbed of activity for hackers who are using new ways of attacking social media users as well as search engines.

In 2010, hacker attacks through Adobe Reader files increased by 11.7% over 2009. While most people expect attacks from .exe files, hackers have evolved their techniques to include everything from PDFs to Word files and will continue to do so to find new methods of attacking as older ones are blocked.

SysSec’s study showed that there are already major consequences attributed to simple viruses infecting everything from cars being remotely shut down by a disgruntled employee-turned-hacker to trains failing because of a virus infecting the system. Vivian Reding told the company that we are looking at a future where the consequences could be even direr, such as hospitals shutting down, trains and planes crashing, and a lack of water and electricity.

The Biggest Threats
According to SysSec, the highest risk areas for malware and fraud in the future will be the underground economy and social networks. However, while these are likely to be the hardest-hit areas, virtualization, clouds, and routing are also going to be vulnerable. The studies also show that new attack vectors and more advanced malware will be a major issue in the future.

Areas that were a concern but not considered high risk include IPv6, online games, and DNS. It’s also expected that targeted attacks, where hackers focus on a specific victim, will be an issue, though not a high-level one.

One of the main concerns is that hackers have shifted from hacking for fun to hacking for profit, and it is no longer just a nerd in a basement suite; many crime organizations are now involved in cyber crime.

How Do We Fix It?

Of course, like all problems, there are solutions. While hackers and their malware may be improving, so are our IT security solutions such as anti-viruses and firewalls. IT will be affected, but will be required to come up with new methods of preventing attacks and leaks from occurring. ICT FORWARD offers some suggestions for improving security protocols in the future in a recent whitepaper, as does SysSec. These include:

• Separation of vital information from the Internet. If it’s not connected, it can’t be hacked as easily.
• Developing new security structures to protect against high-end attacks.
• Creating attack transactions, which include large amounts of useless data to thwart hacking systems.
• Tracking systems to identify criminals and their marketplaces.

The next decade will bring more intelligent attacks, but it will also bring more advanced technology, continuing the dance of hacker vs. security.

We have been repeatedly forewarned that we should avoid dealing with questionable and unverified sites for any of our online transactions.  Much like in the real world where we are told to avoid suspicious-looking characters, we are constantly reminded that online transactions are much safer when done with sites that have proven track records of reliability and consistency.

When you wish to promote your blog, isn’t it a given that it is done in conjunction with respected sites as well.  Reliability equates to better security and there is much sense in choosing to be associated with sites that promote quality online presence.  In truth, we can practice security even by choosing the sites which our blogs will be associated with. 

Blogsearchengine.com is backed up by SplashPress Media Network.  It is a site that offers reviews and listings to blogs for the purpose of providing critical exposure and attention that would result to added traffic and relevant links.  Its reviews are in depth and are meant to support a blog’s goal to maximize readership and earning potentials.

Membership packages start at the standard rate of $ 14.99 which can be upgraded to the Silver Package for $ 24.99, the Gold Package for $ 59.99, and the Platinum Package for $ 99.99.  Those who wish to avail of this important service can simply sign up and pay the required fee which will only take about a minute to complete.  Reliable sites complement each other as they work for their respective goals.  The reliability of each is reinforced as they join forces to project security to consumers.  A single quality link is worth more than a hundred trash links.

Information technology or IT continues to serve the needs of a business from start to the processes of change that it is required to go through as it expands.  It is a necessary occurrence for increased IT security to be needed as businesses grow.  Companies can protect themselves better by laying out the fundamentals of IT security through policies.

Every company operates on its own level of security in the aspect of technology use so it would be impossible to have complete uniformity between company policies.  The most basic components however are essentially the same.  Such components deal with maintaining data security discipline among employees and providing for the official use of the business equipments provided. 

Electronic mail or simply email is deemed an official form of communication between the company and the customers thus it is important that those who are sending it are authorized to do so.  Companies generally have the right to review online communication of employees done through company facilities which give them the chance to intercept and prevent communication which are contrary to company policy or puts the company at risk or danger.  This right however has to be legally backed up by carefully worded terms and conditions.  Most companies also include automatic disclaimer in email contents. 

Employees need to know what constitutes transgression of company security if they are to be expected to act accordingly.  There is also a need for policies to undergo periodic checking and evaluation to ensure that they are current to existing conditions and technologies.  Employers must have access to sanctioning violators of IT security policies so that employees fully understand the consequences of their actions.  Clear-cut written words that have sound legal basis provides the foundation of every IT security policy.

Step 3 – Read the terms and conditions
After signing up, it is important that you read the bank’s terms and conditions very carefully. Most of the times, the term contract are written in very small font so that customers will refuse to read them. But this is where you will find out about the hidden fees and other concerns that might cause complications in the future.

For each PC owner, there will be a preferred setting and software to use. It may depend on the impact and addition of processes or how they protect your computer from malicious intent stemming from viruses and spyware that are spread all over the web. But in the end, you may ask yourself which is the best among these anti-virus software solutions and which can really protect my computer from potent intrusion?

Seriously, there is no definite answer for this. We may see a lot of reviews and best ranked anti-virus software on the web but none of them guarantee 100% protection. Viruses and malware will always find a way and the degree of infection can start from minimal to dangerous at times.

While you can always rely on brand recall, depending on how you understand reviews and features that each software could give, trying them out one by one via their trialware options when you download and evaluation copy would be great. However, beware of some marketing gimmicks such as warning you of infections that may be dangerous to them yet minimal to others.

Anti-virus software selling is still a business and to get the nod of consumers, you have to impress them by showing them something. This is not to say that software companies are actually turning to these low way of marketing their product but why would you purchase an anti-virus software if you have nothing better to show than the price?

That is why you would be better of trying majority of these software programs. For sure you will know which are really needed and which are not.

Getting hold of an anti-virus software these days is not as hard as before. Normally, you had to the nearest computer shop and ask around which best anti-virus software can keep your protected and then install it once you buy it outright. Through the years, software companies have allowed anyone to download their software, try it and then eventually be given the option to buy it. Some are even lucky enough when geniuses develop certain key generators to which they can crack the trialware into the full version. But all that seems checked now.

To date, there are still an abundant number of sites like forums that house such cracks and codes. Some of them work but not as plenty as before. Software companies have religiously sought to skim them one by one, blacklisting said codes to which makes freeloaders scratch their heads and continue to get a working key just to avoid a couple of dollars. Sadly, that is not as rampant as before.

If you think about it, this may only be the tip of the iceberg. Software companies may soon follow the cue of Microsoft in blacking out their screens if they are using pirated versions. If Microsoft can do it, then why not companies like McAfee or Norton? They are not small time companies and for sure, they have the funds to make it work like Bill Gates did.

Cheaters cannot complain and so do pirated users. So if that happens, it will all be due to the nature of being a cheapskate that did these people in.

The hatred felt is seen in the rising occurrences of these same people becoming the entry point for attacks on corporate networks when they visit social sites to pass on the otherwise boring day. This is also counterproductive for their attention to work and the other nuances such as physical security and IT security is so much a threat that it is under study on how to improve the working conditions for these people. They are distracted and left to do almost anything they please which is where the security gap seems to be, using the corporate network to access social sites to which they are members of. Even the installation of hardware and software security measures cannot guarantee security coverage at all angles for the main security risk is still the human behind the keyboard who does the typing and not on the structure of the system itself. It might be helpful to get them out more often to allow their facilities more practice letting the steam and pressures/boredom to dissipate. Role rotation may be a key but is not always feasible for there are certain knowledge associated issues that have to be addressed to be able to do that. Training and re-training people allows them to sharpen skills and add new knowledge to their already bored lives.

Big business has been reminded again and again that complacency is it’s worst enemy and they have failed again and again at the area. Why? Well first, total protection is almost always imperfect and somebody out there with enough intent and resources can break-in however expensive the protection methods may be. Next is that the best systems for protection is always the ones that cost too much yet they still remain vulnerable and hackable. Contrary to most ad’s you see in print, the internet or your Television there is no one true solution to protection, for if the hardware and software measures succeed in protecting you, the human behind the computer/s are always the biggest risk. That is why even the most expensive solutions are used in conjunction with other solutions to provide the best of both worlds combining physical and software solutions hoping that combination will be enough protection from the continuous influx of attacks from the web and elsewhere. Encryption is nice but it takes a lot of computing power to implement making it too expensive for implementation on all levels of the company. All of these high-tech solutions and hardware would be nothing if the people using the various computer systems in the said organization fail to use them so the weakest link in every system is still the human. Strict adherence and compliance is the key with systems that process information somewhat autonomously already in use doing the searching and classification of information without the user’s input. This uses the latest in Artificial Intelligence with minimal intervention or input from the users.

Biometrics are security systems that are based on the differences the human body manifests in terms of eye structure, facial features and now vein geometry. We’ve all heard of DNA or the so-called blueprint for life and the way it makes each and every human different from everyone else on this earth (well, except for some genetic disorders and diseases that changes the DNA makeup). That is what biometrics takes advantage of as a source of a very unique key or method of identifying one from another person.

Your fingerprint is mapped when it is initially scanned into a computer system which convert’s your analog (actual) print into a digital map that is as unique as you are an individual. Iris scanners take into account the differences the iris has from each and every individual (through the use of a low powered light and scanner to obtain a picture of the eye’s iris which is also unique). Voice recognition takes into account, the differences our voices have from everybody else also converting it into a digital map or password of sorts. Vein geometry, uses a thermal imaging camera to take a picture of your hand or whole body which is sensitive to heat showing all the blood vessels which show as hotspots thus giving you a unique id of sorts as that is also mapped and converted into digital form. All of the above biometrics systems rely on our individual differences which are quite unique to us and add onto it, other more basic security measures such as a physical key (password, key or other devices) to give the ultimate security system preventing intrusion.

Apparently, most people fail to realize the value of a good anti-virus software when it comes enabled with all the features included. Some are fine with the trial version as long as they are protected. At least that is what they think. But the real value of a good anti-virus software comes out when you get the full version that comes with the actual cleaning tool when you get one officially.

For most trial versions, you may be surprised to note that once they are able to detect a certain virus, you can only discover them but not clean them. If you do try to clean them, it will tell you to get the full version at a certain price of course.

There are some software that clean certain viruses but these are mostly low in threat. But the graver ones are the issues you have to content with. If you really want a fully protected PC, chances are you better consider an investment that can really protect you from such virus issues, most of which can really hurt you as far as computer files and documents are concerned.